j-dh-'

Description

The Arabic root جذع (j-dh-ʿ) refers to the trunk or stem of a tree, particularly the main solid body that supports the branches. In the Quran, it appears most notably in the story of Mary (Maryam) when she clings to the trunk of a palm tree during childbirth, and in descriptions of date palms more generally. The root conveys the image of a sturdy, supporting structure and is significant in Quranic passages dealing with nature's provisions and moments of human vulnerability seeking physical and symbolic support.